Buoyant propeller-ship



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3 Sheets-Sheet 1. R M FRYER Buoyant Propeller Ship. No. 233,086.Patented Oct. 12,1880.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet 2.

R. M. PRYER. Buoyant Propeller Ship. No. 233,086. Patented-Oct. 12,1880,

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WITNESSES IN VEN TOR (-No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. M. FR'YER. Buoyant'Propeller Ship. No. 233,086. Patented 001.12,i880.

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ROBERT M. FRYER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BUOYANT PROPELLER-SHIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,086, dated October12, 1880.

Application filed April 6, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT M. FRYER, of thecity and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Buoyant Propeller-Ships, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a sectionalelevation of one of the propelling drums or spheres, taken at rightangles to its plane of rotation; Fig.

2, a partly sectional view, the section being taken on the line 1 l ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 repre sents a sectional elevation on line 2 2 of Fig. 5,looking toward the stern; Fig. 4, a sectional view on line33,1ookingtoward the bow, and showing the spheres in elevation Fig. 5, aside elevation of the vessel complete; Fig. 6, a longitudinal section ofthe same; Fig. 7, a plan view of the drums or spheres, and theframe-work by which they are united, the top of the body being removedto show the rela-' tive arrangement of parts and the locality of theengines by which the propelling drums or spheres are driven.

The vessel consists of a framework or body,

preferably of iron, in which are arrangedbuoyant spheres or drumsprovided with paddles or floats upon their outsides, and their interiorsdivided into compartments, for the purpose of increasing their strengthand decreasing their liability of sinking in case of accident.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 7 I arrange three of these sphericalfloats in a frame-work, this number being preferable, for the reasonthat in rough water the vessel is enabled to adjust itself upon thesurface without strain of the frame-work and this adjustment is the morereadily permitted by the spherical form of the floats shown, whichenables them to turn in the water after the manner of balland-socketjoints, while at the same time the pressure is always toward the centerand the degree of immersion remains the same.

These spheres or floats are to be so proportioned relatively to theweight of the entire vessel that about one-sixth of their buoyant powershall be suffieient to support the whole structure upon the water, or,in other words, that only about one-sixth 0f the spheres shall (Nomodel.)

be immersed in the water when supporting the entire weight of thevessel. Each sphere or float is capable of il'idependent rotation, andis provided with independent means for driving it, so that in theabsence of a rudder the vessel may be guided and controlled by therelative speed, or the direction of rotation of the floats.

The spheres or floats are composed of inner and outer shells ofplate-iron, the space between being subdivided, and each subdivision Iprovided with an outlet near the journal for water which may leakthrough the outer shell. These shells are secured together and supportedby intermediate rings or bars, to which the plates are riveted and theinteriors are also subdivided into compartments, so thatin case ofinjury to the shells and admission of water their entire buoyancy shallnot be destroyed.

I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 one manner of forming these compartments,whichconsists in arranging a series of cones, to, around the shaft ofthe wheels, one within the other, their bases separated by and connectedto a central division-plate, 1), arranged in the plane of rotation.These cones are divided into compartments (Z d by plates 0, arrangedbetween them and riveted, as shown. In order to guard against accidentsand leakage each compart' ment is provided with an outlet, 6, at itsouter end near the bearing of the shaft, through which any water thatmay collect therein will be discharged as the wheel rotates.

In the drawings Ihave not shown the inner cone divided intocompartments, though it is clear that it may be so divided. In theabsence of such compartments the outlet or opening through which todischarge the water is to be made at or near the plate b. On theiroutsides the wheels or spheres are provided with paddles f, supported attheir ends by standards 9 and braces 72-, attached to the outer shell orcase.

The standards 5/ and braces h are made of flat pieces of iron, and theformer have their flat sides in the plane of rotation, while the braceshave their flat sides at right angles thereto.

The paddles are arranged between the standards and braces, and the wholebolted together by U-bolts passing around the standards and through thepaddles and braces, and having screw-nuts on their ends.

The standards and braces are all connected by a ring or band, "i,passing around the ends of the paddles and bolted to the ends of thestandards, which project beyond the edges of the paddles a sufiicientdistance for that purpose. By this means the united strength of all thestandards and braces is given. to the support of each paddle. This alsoallows of the ready removal of any of the paddles in case it should bedesired, for any reason, to take them out. This arrangement may bemultiplied to any extent necessary for properly securing the paddles.

In order to adapt the vessel to run on land in case it should be desiredto use it as aland conveyance while crossing an isthmus, 850., I providethe wheels or spheres with a flanged keel arranged in the plane ofrotation, and so shaped as to adapt them for use as a keel, when inwater, to prevent great lateral move went through it, and when upon landto run on rails, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of the drawings.

These flanges or keels may be attached to the wheel in any suitablemanner; but I have shown them made and attached tothe extremity of thedivision-plate b and united to the shells forming the outer spheres. Theflanges for keeping the keel to a track project from the face of thekeel a sufficient distance for the purpose, as shown.

The body or hull of the vessel is composed of a frame-work orwater-tight bottom, which is supported by the journals of the wheels atsufficient distance above the level of the sea to prevent saidframe-work from being brought into violent contact with the waves in theroughest weather.

Three water-tight domes or wheel-houses are arranged upon thisframe-work or bottom, which domes are connected by an arch subdividedinto compartments, which serve as staterooms, cabins, 850. The whole ismade water- 'tight, so that in the event of the wheels (or spheres)being broken or disabled, or the vessel capsized, it will still possesssufficient buoyancy to prevent it from sinking.

The arch by which the domes or wheel-covers are connected affords thegreatest strength, in proportion to its weight, of any other form, andfor this reason I consider it preferable, though it is evident that thisstructure may be built in other forms.

In Fig. 1, 0 represents a projection of the flange of the wheel, whichforms a secondary bearing, in connection with box 41, located a shortdistance above. This provision is made so that in case the main journal,m, should be broken or injured the weight calculated to rest upon itthrough the box I would then be sustained by the said secondary bearing,permitting the wheel (or sphere) to revolve as before, except for thegreater friction caused by its ill proportion.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A buoyant propeller-wheel of substantially spherical form, composedof two shells, one within the other, joined together by intermediategirders or ties radiating from the axes, the spaces so formed beingprovided with outlets through the outer shell near the axes of thewheel, for the purpose of discharging any water which may accumulatebetween these shells from leakage or any other causes.

In a buoyantpropeller-vessel, the combination of three revolving spheresarranged in triangular form relatively to each other, and operated byseparate engines, said spheres being provided on their outsides withpaddles or floats, and with central keels, as shown, in their plane ofrotation, the said keels being grooved on their faces to follow a track,whereby the vessel is adapted to be used either upon water or a landrailway, as set forth.

3. A buoyant propeller-wheel internally divided or subdivided intocompartments, and each compartment provided with. an opening or outletthrough the side of the wheel for the purpose of discharging, during therotation of the same, any water that may accumulate therein from leakageor other causes.

4. A buoyant propeller-wheel of substantially spherical form providedwith a series of internal hollow cones, one within the other, theirbases joined together in a plane at right angles to the axis ofrotation, and thespaces between said cones subdivided by partitionsarranged in the plane of their axes, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. The hull or body of the vessel herein described, consisting of threewater-tight domes or wheel-covers, connected by an arch located betweenthe two rear wheel covers or houses, and forming stays or supports forthe same, and extending longitudinally forward to the forward domeorwheel-house, to support the same, such arch being subdivided intowatertight compartments, the whole supported upon a bottom or frame-Workprovided with suitable bearings for the journals of the wheels, and madewater-tight, as and for the purpose set forth.

ROBERT M. FRYER.

Witnesses:

L. A. GALLATIN, I. J. FRYER.

